Almost a year ago, I became a candidate for the Pennsylvania state house's 89th district. I chose to run because I care deeply about our community and I could no longer stand idly by as our state government enacted policies that undermined our children's educational opportunities, threatened the economic future of our region, and hurt our most vulnerable neighbors.

Our state representative, Rob Kauffman, has failed to provide the leadership that the people of the 89th District need and deserve. His record speaks for itself.

For example, Rob Kauffman voted in support of the 2011-2012 state budget that slashed $960 million in funding for public education. I worked hard with local parents to oppose those cuts. But rather than standing with the families and children in his district, Kauffman voted to cut over $4.5 million from the Chambersburg and Shippensburg school districts. Ask any parent - we have seen first-hand the impact those cuts have had on our children's schools.

We expected to have a representative in Harrisburg who would lead by example, but Rob Kauffman has cut programs that help families while fiercely defending his right to special legislative perks and privileges. In 2004, he campaigned against legislative per diems as wasteful government spending but then, on his first day in office, he began collecting them himself. Since taking office in 2005, he has collected over $34,000 in taxpayer-funded lunch money, on top of his $82,000 salary.

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A true fiscal conservative is someone who is willing to share sacrifice and impose fiscal restraint on himself as well as others. If elected, I will demand that state government set our priorities carefully and spend every tax dollar wisely. I will also lead by example. I will not accept unvouchered per diems for my meals or personal expenses. I will pack my own lunch and pay for my own gas when I drive to work, just like other working people in our district.

When it comes to economic development, we need a representative who will advocate for and support our region's local and family-owned businesses rather than giving billions of dollars in corporate welfare to large, highly profitable, multinational corporations. Rob Kauffman's vote to provide an estimated $1.6 billion in tax breaks and credits to the Royal Dutch Shell Corporation is precisely how we should not be doing economic development in Pennsylvania. It creates an unlevel playing field for our local businesses and forces local taxpayers here in Franklin and Cumberland County to pay more in taxes to cover the public services Shell will require. That's just not fair.

We need a state representative who will put policymaking before partisanship and work with representatives from both parties to find sensible solutions to the challenges facing our state. If someone has a good idea, it shouldn't matter if they are a Republican or a Democrat. We need to listen to each other, respect each other, and work together for the common good.

If elected, I will work hard every day to serve the people of the 89th District. I will be there for you and do my very best to find solutions to the problems we face. I would be honored to have your vote and the privilege of being your next state representative.

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Susan Spicka, Shippensburg, is the Democratic candidate for 89th District state representative.